Foliage Plants

Selection of Foliage House Plants

What's your favorite foliage house plants? These are indoor plants grown primarily for their great looking and interesting leaves, rather than flowers.

Aluminum Plant - Pilea Cadierei

The aluminum plant is an easy to grow species native to China and Vietnam. It's a bush type plant which grows up to 12 inches tall and displays glossy green and silver oval shaped leaves. Place the pilea cadierei in a brightly lit spot with some sunlight to encourage it to thrive and grow well. Pruning each spring encourages new growth and spread.

Cast Iron Plant - Aspidistra Elatior

Cast iron is its name for one reason only; it's cast iron in strength when adapting to low light and neglect. The only ways to really upset this plant is over-watering or re-potting too often. There are two varieties with plain green and variegated (has cream colored stripes) linear shaped leaves. The elatior can grow up to nearly 1 metre tall, once it's fully matured.

Chinese Evergreen - Aglaonema

An array of hybrid plants from the aglaonema genus cultivated over the years because of their increase in popularity. The evergreen grows up to 3ft tall and displays oval shaped leaves that grow 30cm in length. A good supply of varieties offers growers different leaf color variations. Variegated do not tolerate low light as good as the plain green variety.

Croton "Variegated" - Codiaeum Variegatum

Croton plants can be quite demanding for the average grower, so a beginner plant they're not. This species enjoys it's bright light, high humidity levels and moist soil which drains well. The leaves on the most popular variety are leathery types which are green with yellow prominent veins that turn a reddish purple color. Because these plants need bright light and space they're grown quite often in conservatories or greenhouses.

Dumb Cane - Dieffenbachia Amoena

The dumb cane is an easy to grow plant that survives well on basic care conditions that should be provided. Due to it's easy going nature it's become a very popular ornamental foliage house plant. Once the plant matures it can reach up to 6ft in height, although 3 - 4ft is more common. Like many other foliage house plants they do produce flowers in their natural habitat, but rarely indoors.

European Fan Palm - Chamaerops Humilis

The European fan palm is an easy to please palm tree which grows up to a manageable size of 4ft tall, indoors. This is the only palm native to Europe which is why it grows very well in temperate regions. The fronds stretch out and display similar to how a Spanish hand fan, and the trunk becomes thick and kind of furry. This is one of the easiest of palm type trees to grow indoors although it does not grow very tall.

Golden Pothos - Epipremnum Aureum

The pothos is a climbing type vine that has aerial roots. Because these grow up to six feet tall and only have thin stems they need support if a grower wants it to grow upwards in height rather than hanging. A common method growers use to support the golden pothos is using a moss stick. In Britain the Epipremnum Aureum is known as the devils ivy.

Kentia Palm - Howea Forsteriana

The kentia is said to be a vulnerable species native to Lord Howe Island in Australia. The is a feather type palm which grows up to 10ft tall indoors and displays elegant wide fronds. This palm is very popular in Britain and is easy to grow; when applying the basic care conditions correctly. The kentia is faster growing than some of the other palm plants.

Lucky Bamboo - Dracaena Braunii

The lucky bamboo is from the popular ornamental indoor plant genus “dracaena”, and can be grown in water or soil. Indoors these grow up to approximatively 2 -3 ft tall and display small oval leaves and cane like stalks. These are grown mostly in homes and offices for decorative purposes and trained in different braided styles. They’re easy to grow and care for.

Madagascar Dragon Tree - Dracaena Marginata

Plants don’t get much easier to grow than the dracaena marginata - and they fight back to full health so easily after periods of neglect. They will grow up to 6ft, although this takes a number of years; they're slow growers. Maintain the correct conditions for the dragon tree will enable the leaves to stay attractive.

Panda Plant - Kalanchoe Tomentosa

The panda plant (botanical name: kalanchoe tomentosa) is a fairly easy succulent plant species to care for and maintain – which is grown for it's interesting furry leaves. The panda plant being a succulent type species grows thick leaves for water storage purposes, which means watering less often for the grower. These velvety leaves are greenish gray in color.

Swiss Cheese Plant - Monstera Deliciosa

The Swiss cheese plant is an exciting foliage plant to grow and reaches well over 6 ft tall when grown indoors. Although it does flower (and produces edible fruit) the main attraction is the glossy green leaves that grow fairly tall. Do be warned this is a tropical plant that likes fairly warm conditions with humidity levels higher than many other house plants.

Braided Money Tree - Pachira Aquatica

Most commonly known as the braided money tree when grown indoors. This species is s tree type plant which supposedly offers feng shui enthusiasts good fortune. The trunks are braided and the tree can grow up to 10ft tall or can be grown as a bonsai. Plenty of bright light and the right amount of watering (not too much) are the two main components to keep this tree healthy.

Zebra Plant - Calathea Zebrina

The zebra plant displays large patterned ovate leaves on tall stalks. These leaves are light green with dark green stripes which is why it's been given the common name of zebra. It's not really a beginner plant or in need of an expert grower, however, it does need a grower to pay attention to it's temperature and high humidity needs. The striking foliage makes it well worth the growers effort.

Wandering Jew - Tradescantia Fluminensis

The common wandering jew is given to various plant varieties from the tradescantia genus. These are trailing types suitable for growing indoors in containers and hanging baskets. They do bloom small flowers which are non-showy, but they're primarily grown indoors for their foliage. An interesting feature of the F. zebrina is the purplish leaf undersides and the purple young leaves which turn green.

Watermelon Peperomia - Peperomia Argyela

A low growing plant that grows up to a maximum of 12 inches tall. Although the Watermelon peperomia is small it's leaves are large displaying striking green and silver stripes. Even those new to growing indoors will find this plant easy to grow, although attention must be paid to watering. Peperomia's are popular plants.

Rose Painted Calathea - Calathea Roseopicta

Another Calatheae species that displays striking foliage. The ovate leaves display pinkish colored stripes on a green background. This Calathea does not grow as tall as the Zebra, however, it does share the same undemanding care needs. Although this plant flowers during the summer the main attraction is the leaves.

Bird's Nest Fern - Asplenium Nidus

A relatively easy fern plant to grow and maintain indoors that displays two foot long fronds when the plant has matured. The is an epiphytic plant growing in tropical countries that has adapted well to our cooler climates and planted within soil. Out of all ferns this is often the favorite for many people growing indoors.

Mother Of Thousands - B. Daigremontianum

Mother of Thousands is a succulent plant that produces many small plantlets at the edge of the leaves. This is where it gets its common name from. This species has numerous names including Devils Backbone, Mexican Hat and others.

Heartleaf - Philodendron Scandens

This Philodendron is a climbing plant that displays glossy heart shaped leaves and that is where it gets its common names of Heartleaf philodendron and Sweetheart plant from. Looks superb grown on a moss stick.

Arrowhead Plant - Syngonium Podophyllum

The Arrowhead head is a very similar species to the Philodendron and is part of the same family of plants.
These have to be well pruned to avoid too much growth. The leaves have various growth patterns depending on their maturity.

Green Velvet - Alocasia Micholitziana

The Green Velvet Alocasia displays striking arrow shaped leaves with deep white colored veins. Quite difficult to grow indoors well, so your green thumb may be required for this plant. Another member of the genus named Alocasia Amazonica is more popular than this species.